Scotland 6N 2021 thread

[Highland Shaun]

First topic message reminder :

As requested by RDW in the Scotland 2020 thread, I have taken on the job of starting the 2021 6N thread as I want to contribute to the forum as much as I can .

First things first, here are the games and starting times for Scotland 6N 2021 matches :

Game 1: A daunting opener against reigning 6N and ANC champions, England (at a bogey round) on Feb 6th, KO: 1645hrs
Game 2: Our first home game of 6N 2021, against a team in transition or a rebuilding process, Wales on Feb 13th, KO: 1645hrs.
Game 3: Another daunting prospect, this time in the Stade De France, against the very entertaining French team, KO: 1500hrs on Feb 28th.
Game 4: Our second home match, this time against our bogey Celtic cousins Ireland on March 14th, KO: 1500hrs.
Game 5: We end our 2021 campaign at home against Italy, usually seen as a Wooden Spoon decider and one Italy always target as a winnable game, even though its been a few years since they have actually beaten us. This game is on March 20th with a KO time of 1415hrs.

I think most fans would be happy with 3 wins from 5 and Tbh, that is easily achievable if we play to our potential. I know that we have a poor record v Ireland but we know that records are breakable, we are at home so should be aiming for a win in that. I, as most Scotland fans no doubt, would LOVE a win at Twickenham to break the only never ending hoodoo left to beat but I think we all know how tough it will be. It may be good to get them first up but tbh, I don't see it make a difference unless England totally underestimate us or get massively hit by Covid etc.

I also think Gregor Townsend has to deliver positive results etc in order to win over the doubters (I am not one by the way, I am probably the only one on this forum that backs his new contract) once and for all, he will have a tough job picking his squad for the 6N, some players are and will, over the next few weeks, be putting up their hands regarding selection (Rory Hutchinson and Huw Jones fall into this category) and some will be hoping to retain their places on the back of good ANC performances (van der Walt and Duncy Weir for example).

So now comes the bit where you guys can contribute to the thread, who would you pick as the pool of players (is it 26 names?) for the 6N, have you got any left field choices that nobody would expect to see in it, Finlay Christie (as an example because I know a lot would love to see him in the Scotland blue) perhaps?

Hopefully this thread satisfies RDW .

[doctor_grey]

Doc when you were dancing to George Thorogood were you wearing your Maddison shoes?

Madison blue shoes!  We're part of the same cult!
I don't remember what I was wearing for most of my wedding.  We did rock away our shoes.  But that don't confront me none as long as I get my rent money by next Friday!

Oh God Jimbo's found a friend who is on his level.

We're doomed!

Doom on all of you. Saint George (Thorogood) and Covid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E9ydw_aDMg

[RDW]

Good news to have Hastings back fit. Bit of an ask to bring him straight in for the French but I think we still should. Toonie has shown he's not going to bring VDW on unless Russell gets injured (please God no), we're well up on the scoreboard (not very likely) or getting humped (much more likely).

Hastings will at least give us an option off the bench.

[TJ]

IMO its a waste of a bench space having Hastings on there. Russell is still not going to be subbed off except in an emergancy

[TJ]

Watching Scotland does tend to make you want " one bourbon, one scotch , one beer"

[RDW]

IMO its a waste of a bench space having Hastings on there. Russell is still not going to be subbed off except in an emergancy

Hastings is s game breaker and really strong runner. If we need to chase a game bringing him on and Finn to 12 is a really strong option to have.

Also, Hastings instead of VDW if Finn gets injured is s significant difference.

[TJ]

I just do not rate Hastings. He runs up blind alleys and he is not as good a runner as Russell. I would rather have Weir

its just opinions

[RDW]

I just do not rate Hastings.  He runs up blind alleys and he is not as good a runner as Russell.  I would rather have Weir

its just opinions

We've heard that a few times!

Similar to Russell his risk to reward ratio is very different from Weir and VDW.

[TJ]

I would rank them Russell clear number 1, Weir a distant second, Hastings just behind Weir and VDW getting close behind them

Hastings has potential yes - huge potential but he makes too many poor decisions for me

[tigertattie]

Rank these in order of greatness

Finn Russell
Adam Hastings
Duncan Weir
Jaco Van Der Walk
Jade te Rue

Glenmorangie
Jura
Genfiddiach
Johhny Walker
Bells

Choclate Hobnob
KitKat
JaffaCake
Custard Cream
Bourbon

Then tell me which list you find has the greater impact on your day to day life!

[jimbopip]

Tigertattie, I'm sitting here listening to George Thorogood belting out "Delaware Slide" (I don't think that's a metaphor...but) and Finn Russel has just asked me if we have any more Hob Nobs to dunk in our Isle Of Jura.

[jimbopip]

Rank these in order of greatness

Finn Russell
Adam Hastings
Duncan Weir
Jaco Van Der Walk Dan The Man Parks
Jade te Rue John Rutherford

Glenmorangie
Jura
Genfiddiach  Jen Fiddiach ?? was she the barmaid pouring these drinks for you?
Johhny Walker
Bells Rare Eagle Bourbon
Tin Cup rye  put them in order? there's a challenge

Choclate Hobnob
KitKat
JaffaCake
Custard Cream
Bourbon  Your biscuit scenario breaks my heart! What a deprived life you live in the cold, inhospitable east. I bet when visitors from Glasgow come to your gaff they bring food parcels for you. I just know that if Bru ever dropped in on you he'd start by saying "Hello tattie, don't worry I've had my tea."

Then tell me which list you find has the greater impact on your day to day life!

Tigertattie, here's one that'll make an impact on your day to day life Donald Russell's Lorne sausages. They're a revelation: if Alan Jacobson was a sausage this is what he'd be built like.

[No 7&1/2]

Dupont has covid. Hes a touch younger and fitter than me but it knocked me for 6 so it'll be interesting to see if he starts. Big boost for scotland as to me hes the best player in the world at the moment.

[doctor_grey]

Dupont has covid. Hes a touch younger and fitter than me but it knocked me for 6  so it'll be interesting to see if he starts. Big boost for scotland as to me hes the best player in the world at the moment.

One of the problems with Covid is that once a person has beaten it and recovers, the damage in the lungs can linger for an extended period of time.  The reasons why with some people it is almost non-existent whilst in others very severe is still not known.  For me, once a person has recovered, by that I mean no more virus in a person's system, pulmonary tests may be the wisest thing, especially for athletes. Maybe they are already doing that.

[funnyExiledScot]

Rank these in order of greatness

Finn Russell
Adam Hastings
Duncan Weir
Jaco Van Der Walk Dan The Man Parks
Jade te Rue John Rutherford

Glenmorangie
Jura
Genfiddiach  Jen Fiddiach ?? was she the barmaid pouring these drinks for you?
Johhny Walker
Bells Rare Eagle Bourbon
Tin Cup rye  put them in order? there's a challenge

Choclate Hobnob
KitKat
JaffaCake
Custard Cream
Bourbon  Your biscuit scenario breaks my heart! What a deprived life you live in the cold, inhospitable east. I bet when visitors from Glasgow come to your gaff they bring food parcels for you. I just know that if Bru ever dropped in on you he'd start by saying "Hello tattie, don't worry I've had my tea."

Then tell me which list you find has the greater impact on your day to day life!

Tigertattie, here's one that'll make an impact on your day to day life Donald Russell's Lorne sausages. They're a revelation: if Alan Jacobson was a sausage this is what he'd be built like.

I prefer their chateaubriand....

[jimbopip]

As the Luvies' Luvvie, the man who refused to join the Bullingdon club because they drank in PUBLIC houses, I'm not surprised your favourite meat has the word "castle" in the name.

[funnyExiledScot]

As the Luvies' Luvvie, the man who refused to join the Bullingdon club because they drank in PUBLIC houses, I'm not surprised your favourite meat has the word "castle" in the name.

I'm a man of the people Jimbo, as you well know!

[doctor_grey]

As the Luvies' Luvvie, the man who refused to join the Bullingdon club because they drank in PUBLIC houses, I'm not surprised your favourite meat has the word "castle" in the name.

She was so nice, she was luvy-duvy.

[RDW]

Really strong game from Harris tonight for Gloucester. He's never going to run in a screamer but just does the basics very, very well.

[jimbopip]

As regards next Sunday's game, the BBC are saying two other confirmed positive results. That's on top of Galthie, Dupont and one of the coaches. The report also mentioned 11 negative results out of 31 tests . The first question is have the other 20 results not come back yet, or are they being retested?
Either way, with five cases their bubble has been well and truly compromised. I would be surprised if the match goes ahead.
Would a 28-0 be a fair outcome? I think it would. The French camp failed to manage the situation and have no one to blame but themselves. Scotland have managed their bubble in a professional manner . Glasgow had to accept a 0-28 due to Exeter feccin up it seems only just that Scotland get the win.

[doctor_grey]

Would be a shame if the game is cancelled, but rules is rules, as they say. I understand the French team is supposed to be tested almost every day this week, which I presume came after the positive results. They might be retesting the same samples, though not sure exactly how they do that. It's not like an A/B drug test. Or maybe they are testing new samples. We should know quickly.

[No 7&1/2]

Does anyone know the rules on this? Presumably the match would just be played at a later date?

[doctor_grey]

Does anyone know the rules on this? Presumably the match would just be played at a later date?

Not sure if they worked this out in advance or not. If they play later this season, which is the best solution for the Six Nations, the clubs the may have an real issue losing their players for an additional week. Could they play the match in an off week?

[No 7&1/2]

Can't find anything on the website. May be playing it on the fly.

[George Carlin]

As regards next Sunday's game, the BBC are saying two other confirmed positive results.  That's on top of Galthie, Dupont and one of the coaches. The report also mentioned 11 negative results out of 31 tests . The first question is have the other 20 results not come back yet, or are they being retested?
Either way, with five cases their bubble has been well and truly compromised. I would be surprised if the match goes ahead.
Would a 28-0 be a fair outcome? I  think it would. The French camp failed to manage the  situation and have no one to blame but themselves.  Scotland have managed their bubble in a professional manner . Glasgow had to accept a 0-28 due to Exeter feccin up it seems only just that Scotland get the win.

Jim, you shouldn't have said that. Now you've got my hopes up.  

Instead, France will just play their ladies second XV and we'll get spanked anyway. Which would be the most Gallic thing to happen.

[jimbopip]

GC getting spanked by French ladies!! Maybe a little bit of wishful thinking on your part.

[RDW]

Surely all nations agreed to that would happen in this scenario - it's not like it was very unlikely to happen.

[NeilyBroon]

Surely all nations agreed to that would happen in this scenario - it's not like it was very unlikely to happen.

What? Being paddled by French ladies?

[tigertattie]

Precedent has cancelled games played at a later date.

The 6ns have far fewer games than a domestic league so the 28-0 win shouldn’t be used here

If it is it’ll make a farce of things. Imagine if Scotland get the 28-0 and look to put a cricket score on Italy to win the title? That would be farcical and completely Hollow if it happens

[RDW]

I'd take it!

[RDW]

Potentially it would be moved back a week to the next fallow weekend, but that would no doubt cause issues with the French clubs.

And English for that matter for our players

[RiscaGame]

It would have to be an official International window then at least.

[tigertattie]

I’d not want it.

Imagine our first 6ns title where we only won games against three teams.

[RDW]

Maitland returned for Sarries in a friendly this weekend.

[No9]

As regards next Sunday's game, the BBC are saying two other confirmed positive results.  That's on top of Galthie, Dupont and one of the coaches. The report also mentioned 11 negative results out of 31 tests . The first question is have the other 20 results not come back yet, or are they being retested?
Either way, with five cases their bubble has been well and truly compromised. I would be surprised if the match goes ahead.
Would a 28-0 be a fair outcome? I  think it would. The French camp failed to manage the  situation and have no one to blame but themselves.  Scotland have managed their bubble in a professional manner . Glasgow had to accept a 0-28 due to Exeter feccin up it seems only just that Scotland get the win.

6 Nations said back in January, they would NOT cancel any games for COVID, but would reschedule them, as they did last year.. Cant find any official statement on this on the tinternet only the report on at the the time by the Fail.. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-9189549/Six-Nations-games-NOT-automatically-cancelled-Covid-outbreak.html

So no automatic 28-0 win for Scotland, you'll have to earn it.

[jimbopip]

No9
One thing this government has taught me is to pay careful attention to the words they actually say. Thus "Wouldn't you rather give £350 million to the NHS each week?" inexorably led us to "Well we never actually said we WOULD give £350m to the NHS we just asked if people would rather do that."
So the Daily Fail sub heading is full of get out clauses

Six Nations games will not be automatically cancelled in event of Covid outbreak
It could lead to an extended Championship - if fixtures are forced to be called off
The preference of bosses is to delay games until they are able to be played safely

This allows so many get outs. Obviously no-one wants a 28-0: Glasgow fans were furious when their euro cup campaign was effectively finished by conceding a match due to Exeter's inability to manage their bubble. In the same way a gimme against France would be against the spirit of the tournament.
However, if the game can't be played next week it will be very difficult to squeeze it in anywhere. And this is before any more positive tests are unearthed. At the risk of repeating myself, I can't see the game going ahead next week and I'm very doubtful that it can be crowbarred into this season.

[TJ]

Latest news is 5 positives now but the fixture will still be going ahead

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56147154

[doctor_grey]

How come when I look up "Being paddled by French ladies" it takes me to a list of porn sites. I would have thought that was clean and wholesome? Am I missing something?

[jimbopip]

Doc, just be glad you're not a Luvvies' fan: their post match comments are riddled with "thrashed by...stuffed again...Cockers roasts Luvvies' limp wristed efforts". Can you imagine what horrors their search histories contain?

[doctor_grey]

That's too funny. Don't want to look. I am a thoroughly wholesome individual.

[flyhalffactory]

Got to give credit to Toonie, he pulls them out of the hat
https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/scotland-squad-update-france

Uncapped Bath back-row Josh Bayliss has joined the Scotland squad as they prepare to play France in the third round of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
Bayliss qualifies for Scotland through his Aberdeen-born grandmother and has featured for Bath in every game of the 2020/21 season so far.
The 23-year-old is joined by Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Jamie Dobie, who joins the squad for the first time as a full member, having been previously invited to train at the start of the campaign.
Also returning to the Scotland squad are Jamie Bhatti, currently with Bath, Worcester Warrior Cornell du Preez and Glasgow Warriors’ duo Rob Harley and Sam Johnson.
Fly-half Adam Hastings takes his place in the squad having trained with the national team since the end of January to help his return from injury.

Be interesting to see if at some point of the match Gregor plays 10 Hastings 12 Russell

[mikey_dragon]

I thought Russell at 10 and Hastings 15 was more likely. If Johnson is playing well you'd probably want him at 12.

[tigertattie]

Blade most likely concussed so out but it looks like Gary Graham has been sent packing?

[mikey_dragon]

I should add... that's if Hogg was unavailable. I don't know if either Russell or Hastings have featured at 12. They have all the skills but you'd need to be a rock in defence too.

[king_carlos]

Blade most likely concussed so out but it looks like Gary Graham has been sent packing?

That was my immediate thought. Reminiscent of Teimana Harrison getting the shepherds crook for England before half time and disappearing from international rugby.

[NeilyBroon]

Blade most likely concussed so out but it looks like Gary Graham has been sent packing?

That was my immediate thought. Reminiscent of Teimana Harrison getting the shepherds crook for England before half time and disappearing from international rugby.

Can't say I'm surprised. Toonie has said in an interview his temperament was something that he'd improved on prior to 6Ns, indicating that this was something they'd talked about. You can't go into an international and give away more penalties in 40 mins than some players had in the whole tournament so far. It would be forgivable if he had a net positive contribution I guess, but even then it put us under the kosch completely unnecessarily, which ultimately lead to the loss

I assume bayliss is primarily a 6?

[RDW]

He's been filling in at lock too. But he's only 6ft 2!

[jimbopip]

Feccinell the Return Of The Tombola!
Glasgow had a number of players in the 23 on Friday and it was interesting to see how they performed.
Jamie Dobie... looks as if he could cope with a bench spot. Unbelievable potential.
Haircut... mentally exhausted after 35 minutes.  Probably still a better bench option than VDW.
Johnson... best game in a while but never looked like scoring.  A better option than Lang? Possibly.
Rae... not brought on until 70 something minutes.  What does that tell you?
Giant red crayon ... was superb in defence but didn't offer too much going forward.  

Mind you Grant Gilchrist is in the squad.  If he makes the 23 were doomed.

[flyhalffactory]

I should add... that's if Hogg was unavailable. I don't know if either Russell or Hastings have featured at 12. They have all the skills but you'd need to be a rock in defence too.

Russell and Hastings are surprisingly ok in defence

Finns "comeback" game v Georgia saw him replacing Lang at I/C around the 55th minute, after that we put 4 tries on them, he was outstanding at 12 and his understanding with Hastings (who also had a superb game) was almost telepathic in a 48-7 (they were lucky to get the 7 pts) against a very tasty Georgian side who were looking to prove they were good enough to be in the 6Ns and were unlucky v England 40-0 and Wales 18-0 the next two games.

I'm sure Hasting won't start or might not be even in the 23 but IMHO a backline;

15 Hogg
14 Maitland / Graham
11 van der Merwe

13 Harris / Taylor
12 Russell / Johnson

10 Hastings
09 Price

is equal to any 6Ns

[RDW]

Bit of detail that may have been missed in the squad announcement - Scotland are appealing Fagerson's ban.

A risky decision - it could get even longer!

[NeilyBroon]

I think Dodson should move to sue, that always ends well

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